Slashandburn
Slash-and-burn, also known as swidden agriculture, is a traditional method of clearing land for cultivation. The process typically involves slashing vegetation, burning the debris to release nutrients, and planting crops on the nutrient-rich ash floor. Crops are grown for a period until soil fertility declines, after which the land is abandoned and allowed to regenerate as forest or shrub cover returns. The fertility boost from the ash is usually temporary, and the technique relies on a cycle of shifting cultivation with fallow periods.
Historically, slash-and-burn has been practiced in many tropical regions, including parts of the Amazon basin, Central
Environmental and social considerations surround slash-and-burn. When fallow periods are long enough, the system can sustain
Policies often encourage sustainable alternatives, such as improved fallows, agroforestry, or permanent cropping systems, to reduce